Goodness . . . is everyone else busy too???

It's been forever since I've blogged on here. Sorry. School has been VERY busy this year. Between volleyball, NEASC, Harvard Model Congress, and teaching the new AP course, I've been running around my building all day (and sometimes night) long. :-(

Updates:

* AP Euro is going well. A lot more work than what I thought but it's been good. I've been told that the first year is always tough to teach. Sources on the Internet have been a god-send. It's been nice to teach the upper-level student as well.

*Finished up my JV volleyball season 9-11. Last season we only had two wins so to go from 2 wins to 9 wins is a HUGE improvement! I'm so proud of my girls! :=) It probably helped that I coached Junior Olympic volleyball last winter (I will be doing it again starting on Dec 5th - every Sunday between now and the beginning of May).

*NEASC (accreditation for my school) has been very dramatic and A LOT of work! I am a co-chair of the curriculum strand. The visitation committee arrives in April so I will be happy when this process is over.

*Harvard Model Congress has been keeping me busy too. Added a few more fundraisers and a lot of the kids are not using the fundraising to their advantage. It sucks but I don't want to hear it when their parents have to pay the full $450 for the conference when I've offered numerous opportunities for their kids to fund raise to bring that cost down. The students that have taken advantage of the fundraising have made out like bandits. A few of them will only have to pay $100 for a $450 trip (which is a huge savings!).

*I'm also a mentor to a new teacher in our dept. It's been interesting to say the least. :=)

Good news:

*I will going to Poland over April break. The local university and Holocaust Center are doing a trip to Poland for teachers with the focus to be on the Holocaust. I am so excited about this opportunity! I also convinced three of my colleagues at my school to go on the trip. There will be three Saturday classes prior to the trip to learn about the history of what we will be seeing when we are over there. We will be going to Warsaw, Kielce, Aushcwitz, and Krakow (the heart of the Holocaust). In grad school, my research was the Holocaust namely Auschwitz so I'm very excited to be going on this trip. My students are even excited for me and told me to take a million pictures! :=) And, I'm Polish so I get to go visit my homeland! :=)

*I will be getting a student teacher for the spring semester. It's a first so I'm excited about it. It's something that I haven't really felt like I'm ready to do in my career but after 12 years of teaching, maybe it's time? The student teacher did a lot of observation hours with me the past year so he really likes my teaching style and really pushed to do his student teaching with me. Nothing like a little boost to the self-esteem!

*My sister flew out for Thanksgiving this year. Thought we would start a new tradition. We had a lovely visit. Took her to a Bruins game (a first for both of us). Ate lots of yummy seafood.

*Will be going to Phoenix, AZ again for Christmas to be with my family. Hoping it will be warmer than last Christmas.

So, what is new with you? :=)

ALMOST the end of the school year - can I do it?

Yes. MDawg is still in school. We are in school until June 23rd (we had one snow day to make up). Ahhhh . . . the joy of living in New England and starting school after Labor Day. :=)

This school year has been one of the most exhausting and overwhelming to date. With all the Freshman House drama, transition program drama, and just plain every day kind of drama, I think everyone is ready for the year to end. I don't like wishing my life away but this school year really truly just needs to be officially O-V-E-R!

It probably doesn't help that it's been VERY hot and humid here. I have a classroom on the 3rd floor of our building (we call it the Penthouse) and it's an inside classroom (no windows) so there is supposed to be AC in the inside classrooms. The AC is broken so the classrooms have been reaching temps of 86-90 degrees. Even with my 2 fans strategically placed in room - it's not helping cool off the classroom. Even when it cools off outside the building, the heat stays trapped inside the building until at least October. Makes me feel real grateful after the school district spend millions and millions of dollars in a 3 year renovation project of the school and the AC doesn't work (the AC units are only two years old). Under warranty?????? Who knows since everything was done so cheap. Ugh. :-(

The class of 2010 is officially gone. Their first year was my first year at the high school. I was their class advisor freshman and sophomore years. I was invited to chaperon their Prom. They wanted their pictures taken with me. They invited me to all their Senior week activities: Six Flags (the roller coasters and I bonded), Improv Comedy Night, and the Senior Picnic. Graduation was on Friday. Again, a lot of pictures taken. There were a lot of tears and hugs and best wishes for the future. I will miss them but they are moving on to bigger and better things in the world. :=)

The big summer plans are quite simple: 1) Rest and relax, 2) do a lot of walking and exercising 3) get ready to teach AP European History in September (I have AP training in Vermont for a week), 4) Jury duty, and 5) Go to IL to visit family and friends.

I really need to recharge my creative battery this summer regarding my teaching. I think teaching in that Transition Program really messed me up creatively and professionally. The Program will not exist next school year (the administration FINALLY heard our cries of "it's not working") but these at-risk students will be mixed in again within the regular school population. I think if the administration provided our team with support and proper training to begin with it might have worked. But they didn't see the "bigger" picture with these kids and what the teachers had to work with in terms of social and behavior skills. No one else in the Freshman House wants (actually they all REFUSED) to teach those kids.

I'm looking forward to the AP training in July. I've heard wonderful things about the training but also it's a lot of work too. I've had to come up with a summer assignment for students that signed up for my course (which is hard to do since I've never taught the course or had the training yet) but I went online to see what other AP Euro teachers give their students for summer work and went by their requirements. But the way, I have enough students that signed up for TWO sections of AP Euro History! Not bad considering it's an elective course for 12th graders. Right now it looks like my schedule for next school year will consist of 3 sections of 9th grade World History and two sections of AP Euro History.

And, I'm looking forward to going to IL to see my family and friends. My parents are back in IL for the summer. They are staying at a campground near my sister. I haven't seen my family since Christmas out in Arizona. And, it's always great to see friends too. Thank goodness for email and Facebook! Both allow me to keep in touch with everyone. :=)

Volleyball season will start up the end of August and my life will go back to craziness once again.

For now, I just want to breath. Work on me physically and spiritually. And just smile. :=)

Happy 2009!

Greetings and Happy New Year to all!

Just a few updates:

*Made it safe and sound to IL. Had a lovely time with my family. Stayed at my sister's new townhouse -it's gorgeous! My sister and I threw my parents a surprise retirement party and a great time was had by all that attended. My Mom, sister, and I shopped on one day at the outlets. Even spent an evening with some friends from high school. Overall, it was a nice break and felt awesome to just get away and relax.

*Mom, Dad, and Mia the Yorkie left IL on Jan 3rd for FL. They are taking their time getting down there with a stop in Alabama at a campground on the gulf coast. They are enjoying the warmer weather so far.

*Went back to school on Monday. We have midterm exams starting on Monday. 2nd quarter is shorter because of MCAS. My colleagues and I didn't get through all the World curriculum that needed to get taught for the midterm. We've been pushing our head teacher to talk to the Asst. Superintendent about changing the World curriculum (we teach two years worth of curriculum in one year due to the change in state testing). And, the state doesn't even test on World History - US History only. My dept (and I) are pushing that we eliminate the first part of World History (the kids are being taught this in the middle school anyway) and start with the Enlightenment and work our way to the present day.

*I'm debating on the direction of where this blog needs to go. It's time for a change. I've usually mixed it up with both. I either will keep it personal or keep it strictly professional. I'm leaning towards keeping it professional and talking only about teaching stuff. I'm feeling a bit burnt out after ten years of teaching and feel that maybe if I focus on positive teaching styles and activities and educational stuff that maybe I can get those creative juices flowing again. :-)

*The other main reason why I'm leaning towards keeping this blog professional is that I would like to keep the personal MDawg personal. I have a lot of issues (as does everyone else out there) and I find that I'm way too negative about my personal life.

So, I wish everyone a happy 2009!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Mom - you've been a fabulous Momma is me and Mandy. You always support us, love us, and accept us NO MATTER what we do or how we live our lives.

Hope you were able to enjoy your day -

Love ya lots!

PS Sorry about the old picture - I think we need some recent pictures! Maybe when I'm out in IL for Christmas we should take some photos. :-)

Happy Father's Day to my Dad and all the Dad's out there!

This is a picture of Mom and Dad in front of their soon to be new home.

Dad - Happy Father's Day to my Daddy! I know we disagree on a lot (OK, almost everything) but you are my Daddy and I love you! You are always there to support me and be there for me through all my crazy dumb blond moves. :-) Who was it that showed me how to ride a bike (yes, through all my tears and crying) and drive a car (through your tears and crying)? My Daddy! :-)

Enjoy your Father's Day!

Love Ya!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my Sis - Mandy!!!!

This is a picture of Mandy with her favorite band group - the Goo Goo Dolls! Mandy is the girl in the jean skirt and light greenish top. Yes, that is John Rzeznik (lead singer) in the middle! :-)

Mandy spent a few days down in Florida for a relaxing vacation. She returned to lovely Chicago weather . . . in the 60's.

Happy Birthday to my baby sis - you turn 33 years old today and you don't look a day over 30! Ha!

Seriously, I love ya and thank you for being a great sister.

Hugs!

Still in IL. Still relaxing. :-)

Just some random thoughts for today:

*Happy Birthday to my Dad. He turns 59 today. Happy B-day Daddy!

*Hung out with my "peeps" from high school last night. We had a lovely time at The Maples Restaurant (they have no link or web site). Thanks for coming out ladies . . . had a nice time catching up! :-) Went back to Joann's house to hang out. She bought me some great gifts for Christmas . . . gift cards, stuff for school (paper, Post-it's, pens, etc) and my personal favorite, Western dressing! I love this dressing on my salads and you can't find it in New England so she loaded me up! :-)

*Christmas was low key. My plane ticket to IL was my Christmas gift and got some awesome gift cards in my stocking my Santa. My sis and I gave each other the same gift - The Third Pirates Movie on DVD! You can't tell we are sisters, can ya??? :-)

*My Godfather and his wife drove down on Thursday to spend the day with me. They've always been so good to me. I'm so blessed to have such great folks in my life.

*On Wednesday, the family and I went to Chicago for the day. I wanted to check out this museum. Very informative and gets ya to stop and think about our freedoms and rights. Ate lunch and then my sister got us tickets for Altar Boyz. It's a spoof on the Catholic Church. Oh my goodness, I laughed my ass off! Highly recommend seeing it. Sis went on line that morning and got us front row center tickets for half price! Good deal!

*Not doing anything for New Years. Just going to hang out at my folks house. Low key. I have some resolutions that I'll be working on. Do you have any resolutions or changes that you'll be working on in 2008?

Happy almost New Year and 2008!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

What can I say about Joela???? She's a crazy lady (in a good way)! :-)

Throughout my life, my Mom has been my strength and support (for both my sister Mandy and I). She listens to me rant and rave about my students or my school. She's a survivor of breast cancer - she is my hero!

Mom has always supported my decisions (good and bad) and is always there for me. She's funny and silly - she always makes us laugh. Her passion for life is amazing to me.

Mom has passed on to Mandy and I her love of animals. Mom loves animals and will always help a pet in need. She's Ellie the Cat's grandma!!!! :-)

Mom's love of traveling was passed on to me as well. Growing up, we would go on these family trips all over the country. Because of my parents, I realized that there was a big world out there besides Dalzell, IL (the town of 600 people that I grew up). Next summer, my parents are going to follow their retirement dream of selling the house and traveling across the country in a 5th wheel camper (the photo above - Mom and Dad in front of their soon-to-be new home) full time.

Mom will do anything for "her girls." She protected us when we were little and took crap from no one! For that, I love her more than words could ever say.

Mom - Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for being the "bestest" Mom a girl could ever ask for. Happy Birthday and enjoy your special day!

I love ya Momma! :-)

Happy Father's Day to my Daddy!

This is Dad and I in 2003 - the picture was taken at Pokagon State Park in Indiana.

Happy Father's Dad to my Daddy! I know I can be a pain in the butt. I know that I can be stubborn. But, I get it from you! (Just kidding). :-)

I do love you Daddy! Thank you for everything you do for me. You are always there to stand behind me and support me. I do appreciate all the sacrifices you did for me when I was growing up. I hear a lot of your words coming out of my mouth now as an adult with my students. Scary, heh? I know I wasn't the "easiest" teenager growing up but you and Mom still stood behind me and believed in me.

Enjoy your extra special day!

I love you mucho!!!! :-)

This lovely picture is a flashback from my 8th grade graduation in 1985. Notice the big 80's hairdo on Mandy and I. :-)

This picture is from Mom and Dad's Surprise 25th Wedding Anniversary Party in 1994. Are you feeling the love???

What is the meaning of summer?

For me, the meaning of summer is fishing. I have some nice memories of going fishing with my Dad.

My friend Cheryl from IL emailed me these pictures of her and her family fishing.


Isn't summer great?

This picture is (left to right) Corey, Brian, and Jacob.

This is Cheryl catching a fish!

Good job Hunt family! :-)

Duh!

Sorry guys!

Grandma's surgery was today - not Monday.

She's having a procedure done on her stomach. Nothing too serious. She's been having stomach problems for the past 10 years but her Dr. wants to make sure it's nothing more serious than that.

I'll talk to Mom tonight to find out how it went. Dad was "the chosen one" out of his sisters and brother to take her to the hospital this morning.

For 91 years old, Grandma is doing pretty well. A little slower than she used to be but overall, still good. I visited her when I was in IL over Christmas break. She was crocheting a baby blanket for my cousin Scott's soon to be baby!

It amazes me that she still makes blankets and quilts at her age!

Go Grandma go! :-)